Rape victim would not lie: State

Tonga - An Mpumalanga prosecutor has told court that a girl who accused her uncle of rape would have to be “the greatest liar” to lay a false charge against the accused.

The accused, 56, a bishop from Zibokwane village near Komatipoort, appeared in the Tonga Regional Court on Tuesday afternoon, a Sapa correspondent reported.

He was arrested on January 23, 2012 after being accused of raping the girl in 2011. He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape.

Prosecutor Thulani Msibi questioned why the accused's wife insisted that the victim, who was 15 at the time, had never been left alone with her uncle.

“Ma'am, I can put it to you that you never left them alone because you were suspecting something. You are just protecting your husband because if he can be found guilty you will be an embarrassment at church.

“It is very strange that this victim can fabricate this rape against you and still be able to relate the story in the same way she did when she opened the case two years ago. If the victim is lying, it means she is the greatest liar in the world,” he said.

The bishop is out on R1000 bail.

Magistrate Edgar Moletsane postponed the case to June 6 for the trial to be moved to the Boschfontein Regional Court.